Band-brake.



No. 873,679r

P ATBNTED DEG. 10, 1907.

F. OBRIEN. BAND BRAKE. ABBLIOATIQN FILED 13110.18, 190e.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

2 SHEETS-SHEET' z.

No. 873,679. PATENTED DBG. 1o, 19o?.

P. OBRIBN.

BAND BRAKE. APPLICATION FILED DEO. 18, 1906.

UNrrED STATESV PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK OBRIEN, OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNORTO BUICK MOTOR COMPNY, 0F FLINT,

MICHIGAN.

BAND-BRAKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 10, 1907.

Application led December 18, 1906. Serial No. 348.431.

ticularly adapted for motor vehicles, and applies especially to the band and to the means for supporting the same in operative position with respect to the cup or ring to which it'is applied or with which it cooperates'.

lt is common to support a one piece expanding b and at one -end by a stud or the like; also to support a split band by means of-a stud at the middle, or midway betweenits ends; or, when the band is formed in two pieces, by means of a hinge pin or stud between said pieces. When such a band brake is supported or fixed at the middle, the rotation benefits lor expands it at one end, but tendsto contract it at the other, so that al though there is an advantage on one side incident to friction there is an equal disadvan tage'on the other side, and consequently this form of band requires powerful operatin leverage. When such a band brake is fixe or supported at one end its friction will operate to expand itin one direction,-while in the opposite direction of rotation the friction will l incident to the .operation of the brake, and.

tend to contract it and thus to release it 3 and this is particularly disadvantageous or inconvenient in connection with automobiles, incident to the liability'of backing down when the machine is brought to a stop on an upgrade', by failure of the motor or otherwise, owing to the failure of such a brake to hold.

VV`th a one piece band, the method of attachrnent referred `to has the defect that the band is weakened at the stud, by the' constant expansion and contraction ofthe band furthermore, in some cases aseparate arm or support is necessary to hold the stud to which j the band is attached. Also,.all 'such bands must be spaced from the cup at thestud since there is no expansion there, and consequently the whole circumference of the band cannot be applied to the cup when the brake is set.

' This leads toquick and une ual wear.

The present invention avolds these defects by providing a band which is not rividly fixed or weakened at any point, but which is so,

supported that it will be stopped or heldat either end, according to-the direction of rotation, and will expand or act over its whole circumference in consequence of 'friction caused by rotation in either direction, relative rotation being prevented by means of a stoppin or lug which is secured to a fixed part or structure and which projects betwcenthe ends of the band; or by other equivalent means. The band, while it is nevertheless supportedfin operative position to act by rotation of the parts, may be said to be floating to the extent that it will stop and expand with equal pow er either way, when once engaged. Also, the entire circumference of the band is applied and is effective, since the band expands at all points, and the friction of the brake serves yto increase the expansion by acting around the whole circumference', thus givlng double the braking power of any of the middle supported-brakesn 'The invention furtherhas the advantages 'of cheap construction, ease of operation, and

absence of adjustment, since the throw of the lever will take up any wear,vuntil tho band is worn out. It wil-l also operate on a machine having untrue hub cups, -duc to wearor other cause, since the flexible band will spring or conform to the cup.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a sectional view showing the device applied to a wheel and axle. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, with the band in section. Fig. 3 is an end or face view of the parts shownl in Fig. 2. n

Referring specifically to the drawings, 6 indicates an axle and 7 the huh of a wheel fixed thereto. Theaxle is inclosed in :a tubular casin S'Which is provided at the outer end'wit a head 9, having a circular face extending around the axle, and which carries the band. The cup is indicated at 1l), and is bolted tothe hub of the wheel and the hollow part thereof is presented toward the head 9. The parts 8 and 9 arc relatively fixed or stationary. h

The band is indicated at 11 made of spring steel or other spring metal, with enough stiffness to holdits shape and position. The band is preferably faced with vliber or other friction material 12, and it fits within the cup so that it acts by expansion to apply the Fig. 2, an

The pivotal connection 23 between .the

curved link -16 and to gle arms 15, and thel through the center of the axle.

pivotal connection 24 etween said link and the crank arm 17, are opposite, or as near opposite as possible, on a diametrical line The reason for this is that when the brake is expanded and the machine stops or changes from forward to backwardvmotion there isl or tends to be a shift or movement of the link 16 and its connections, incident to the' slight shift of the band and the different centers ofthe lever and the hub cup. This movement or jar, by the construction shown,'is reduced to the minimum.

The band is hung and supported in place within the cup by means ofthe toggle and its connections, and also by means of a series of pins 25 which project from the head 9, within the band, and a pin 26 which proljects from the lug- 13 between the double l toggle arms 15. This latter keeps the band in position sidewise. The band is free from rigid attachment to the head, but relative circular movement or rotation thereof is prevented by means of the stop 13 against which the ends of the band abut, and which therefore when the brake is applied prevent slip of the band in either direction, irrespective of whether the machine is running forward or backward. When the tog le is` straightened by means of the crank an conneetion the band is expanded and applied around its whole clrcumference, giving a large and true friction surface, and the friction tends to further expand the band around its whole circumference, thereby giving great braking power. f

I clalm:

1. In a brake of the kind described, the combination of a Wheel carrying axle connected to theA Wheel, a tu ular caslng over the axle, having avcircular head at the end fitting at its edge close to the ring, with a series of pins and astop projecting into the rin a spllt band supported upon the pins,

means to expand the band.

2. In a brake of the kind described, the combination of a wheel carryin a ring, an axle connected to the wheel, a tu ular casing over the axle, having a stop projecting into the ring, a split band supported within the ring With its ends arranged to abut the stop, double toggle arms connected tothe opposite ends of the band and having means to expand the same, and a in projecting from the stop and between t e toggle arms, to prevfnt lateral movement of said arms and an 3. In an ex anding band brake, in combination,'an ax e, a wheel thereon carrying a friction ring, a split brake band within the ring, toggle arms 'connected to opposite ends of the ring, an o eratin lever moving in a lane parallel to t at of t e band, and a bent link extending around the axle and lpivotally connected at oneend to the toggle arms and at the other to the lever, the respective connections being substantiall diametrically opposite, and the axes of t e pivots being parallel.

In testimony whereofl I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

` FRANK O'BRIEN.

' Witnesses:

ELIZABETH J. PRICE, JEssIE A. GORDON.

a ring, an v 4wit its ends arranged to abut the stop, and 

